URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — An Urbana man facing charges of attempted murder reached a plea deal with prosecutors this week, avoiding a jury trial that was scheduled to begin the same day the deal was reached.

Kejuan McFarland was charged with four Class X felony counts in connection to a shooting just over a year ago at Champaign’s Days Inn on West Bloomington Road. Court records show he was set to go on trial Tuesday, and both the prosecution and defense said that morning that they were ready for trial to begin, but the defense requested a recess to speak with McFarland.

Later on, Judge Roger Weber was informed that a plea deal had been reached. McFarland subsequently entered a plea of guilty to one count of aggravated battery with a firearm while the state moved to dismiss two counts of attempted murder and one count of armed robbery.

By pleading guilty, McFarland admitted to shooting a Tolono man during a robbery at the Days Inn on June 5, 2024. State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said two women who were with McFarland said he was at the hotel the night of the shooting, and an eyewitness saw him enter the room where the shooting happened and then run out. Surveillance footage also identified him as a suspect in the shooting.

In addition to three other counts in the robbery case, the state dismissed an unrelated case in which McFarland was accused of failing to register a new address as a sex offender. He had been convicted in 2017 of misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse.

McFarland is due back in court for sentencing on Aug. 4.